Diploma in Developmental Services Worker Fanshawe College

The Developmental Service Worker program is a two-year Ontario college diploma for students interested in having a direct impact on the lives of people with developmental disabilities. You will become a highly skilled practitioner able to deliver person-directed support through courses that promote mental and physical health, develop interpersonal and interprofessional skills, and foster independence and positive behavior supports. New graduates are employed as direct support professionals or educational assistants.

Your Learning Experience

If you believe that having a positive and direct impact on the lives of people with developmental disabilities is a career worth pursuing, then the Developmental Services Worker (DSW) program is designed for you.

Students will become highly skilled and reflective practitioners while supporting people of all ages to live as independently as possible while promoting inclusive communities. Your courses will be dynamic with a focus on mental and physical health, interpersonal skills, teaching, and positive behavior supports. You'll learn how to collaborate and build relationships with family members, and to work with the diverse network of professionals who support people with developmental disabilities.

With nearly 700 hours of field experience with community agencies and school partners, you’ll gain the first-hand experience and confidence necessary for success as a developmental support worker.

You'll also have the opportunity to transfer credits for further education at universities such as Ryerson, Windsor, Calgary, and Western.

High Demand DSW jobs

Fanshawe DSW program graduates are in high demand. The majority of grads - if not all - find fulfilling employment within 6 months as direct support professionals, case managers/service coordinators, or as educational assistants at a school board.

The Developmental Services Worker two-year diploma program prepares its graduates to be specialists in supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities. Inherent to the role of a DSW is the ability to collaborate and build relationships with people with developmental disabilities and their families and to work with colleagues and members of inter-professional teams to facilitate a seamless network of support for people.

Courses focus on disabilities, person-directed supports, inclusion and community resources, dual diagnosis, interpersonal skills, counseling, health, pharmacology, development, teaching, and intervention strategies.

Field placements in community agencies and/or schools are part of the curriculum. Students on field placement are required to work evening shifts and cover any costs associated with preparation for fieldwork.

Graduates from this program wanting to transfer to another Community Studies program at Fanshawe College may qualify for some internal credits that have already been achieved.

Courses

Level 1

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

• BSCI-1211 ---- Developmental Disabilities 2
• BSCI-1010 ---- Developmental Psychology
• WRIT-1094 ---- Reason & Writing 1 for Community Studies
• BSCI-1207 ---- Developmental Disabilities 1
• PHIL-1016 ---- Philosophy of Support
• HLTH-1197 ---- Health & Wellness 1
• DEVL-1055 ---- Professionalism 1
• BSCI-1274 ---- Teaching & Learning in Dev Services 1

Level 2

General Education - Take a 3-credit General Education elective course.

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

Group 1

COMM-3082 ---- Communications for Community Studies

• HLTH-1198 ---- Health & Wellness 2
• DEVL-3015 ---- Professionalism 2
• BSCI-1208 ---- Person-Directed Plans
• BSCI-1275 ---- Positive Behaviour Interventions 1
• BSCI-3058 ---- Teaching & Learning Dev Services 2

Group 2

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

(Minimum Grade C)

• PHRM-3019 ---- Pharmacology in DSW

Level 3

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

Group 1

• HLTH-3038 ---- Health & Wellness 3
• FLDP-1014 ---- Field Placement 1
• DEVL-5009 ---- Professionalism 3
• BSCI-1007 ---- Abnormal Psychology/Dual Diagnosis

Group 2

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

(Minimum Grade C)

• BSCI-1213 ---- Abuse

Level 4

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

Group 1

• HLTH-3039 ---- Health & Wellness 4
• BSCI-1214 ---- Community Building
• FLDP-3052 ---- Field Placement 2
• BSCI-1020 ---- Augmentative Communication
• BSCI-1212 ---- Social Services

Group 2

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

(Minimum Grade C)

• BSCI-3059 ---- Positive Behaviour Interventions 2

General Education - Elective

Take 3 General Education Credits - Normally taken in Level 2

Program Residency

Students Must Complete a Minimum of 22 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the Program Residency requirement and graduate from this program

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Conduct oneself in an ethical*, competent* and accountable* manner in all professional relationships.
2. Provide person-directed supports and services that respect and promote self-determination for people with developmental disabilities
3. Provide for the safety of people with developmental disabilities, self, and others in compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, and standards of practice*.
4. Support the health and well-being of people with developmental disabilities.
5. Employ and adapt formal and informal strategies to support the learning of people with intellectual disabilities.
6. Provide leadership in the development of inclusive communities*.
7. Develop professional and personal plans that enhance job performance and well-being.

Graduates of Fanshawe’s Development Services Worker program will be employed within community-based agencies and boards of education to support persons with developmental disabilities by promoting life skills, education, employment, and leisure support. Graduates are also trained in counseling, advocacy, health, and pharmacology.

Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Development Services Worker program:

Developmental Service Worker

Provide a high quality of service and support to people with developmental disabilities by striving to promote and facilitate community inclusion, meaningful participation, and full citizenship.

Service Navigator

Work with individuals, their families, and community agencies to address the needs of adults living with a developmental disability and/or seeking developmental services to address a diagnosis.